Labor unions are being set up one after another at major semiconductor equipment companies, including Semes, a semiconductor equipment subsidiary of Samsung Electronics. The push to form unions, which had centered on chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, is spreading to the equipment sector.
삼성전자 반도체 장비 자회사인 세메스를 비롯해 주요 반도체 장비업체들이 잇달아 노동조합 설립에 나서고 있다. 삼성전자와 SK하이닉스 등 반도체 제조사를 중심으로 이뤄졌던 노조 설립 움직임이 장비업계로 확산하는 분위기다.
According to the industry on the 15th, the Semes labor union notified employees that the union officially launched that day. The union plans to begin activities across all business sites, including Dongtan, Cheonan, Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek.
Tokyo Electron Korea, a global semiconductor equipment company, is also said to be moving to establish a union, including plans to begin recruiting members soon.
Until now, union activity in the chip industry had centered on manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, but recently the organizing drive has been spreading to equipment companies.
This is analyzed as the result of an industry upturn boosting the performance and standing of equipment firms, along with rising employee interest in improving pay, benefits and performance-based compensation.
With competition in AI Semiconductor chips intensifying and equipment technology and key talent emerging as core elements of corporations' competitiveness, the industry expects more active labor-management discussions in the equipment sector over pay, benefits and performance-reward systems.